My Overall Rating:

Ernie Ball Regular Slinky is currently on sale on Amazon US / Amazon UK.

For musicians, the type of electric guitar strings which they use can have a huge impact on how comfortable a guitar is to play, and the quality of the sound which it produces. Strings can vary according to the materials used in their creation, and their gauge, or thickness. Musicians will often experiment with different electric guitar strings until they find the ones which are perfect for them. For high quality strings in a variety of gauges, the Ernie Ball Regular Slinky String Set is the ideal choice.

The Ernie Ball strings in this set are made by winding nickel plated steel wire around tin plated hex shaped steel core wire. This makes them much stronger and more durable than ordinary tin plated carbon steel wires. They will generally last for a long time with no notable deterioration in sound quality, and they also stay in tune consistently. It is also rare for them to break, unlike electric guitar strings of an inferior quality.

The Ernie Ball Regular Slinky String Set includes strings in a variety of gauges, which can be positioned from the first string position to the sixth. The thinnest gauge is ten thousandth of an inch, and this strings set is therefore known as “tens.” In general, the strings sets known as nines are best suited to beginners as they are easier to play, whereas elevens and twelves should only be used by more experienced musicians whose fingers are accustomed to the heavier strings. As Ernie Ball Regular Slinky strings are tens they are ideal for beginners and professionals alike.

The quality which sets these Ernie Ball strings apart from other makes, and the reason for their popularity, is the quality of the sound which they produce. It can be described as full bodied, and it is exceptionally clear and crisp. These electric guitar strings are perfect for playing rock music, but they are also versatile enough to be used for jazz and blues. They bend easily, which makes them ideal for creating the slides and vibrato effects required when playing lead guitar.

As a result of their high quality Ernie Ball strings have become world renowned. Made in the USA, their reputation for reliability and for producing an impressive sound has led to them being the electric guitar strings of choice for many musicians. As as indication of how highly thought of they are, they are used by Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day and Angus Young of AC/DC.

Despite the fact that Ernie Ball strings are a high quality product they are extremely affordable. As a result, they offer exceptionally good value for money. Regardless of whether a musician is just learning how to play the guitar or is an experienced professional, Ernie Ball Regular Slinky strings are easy to manipulate and produce an impressive sound quality. It is for these reasons that they come so highly recommended. Read more user reviews.
 

Brand	Ernie Ball
Model	2221
Type	Electric Guitar Strings
Wrap Wire	Wound strings made from nickel plated steel wire, wrapped around tin plated hex shaped steel core wire, plain strings made of specially tempered tin plated high carbon steel.
Gauge	Gauges: 10-13-17-26-36-46
Consumer Rating
Price Range	Discount price on Amazon US / Amazon UK

A clip from Youtube on Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Electric Guitar Strings.

My Overall Rating:

Ernie Ball Ernesto Palla is currently on sale on Amazon US / Amazon UK

I love the black and gold tones of these Ernesto Palla strings, I play classical guitar and the bluesy sound I get from the nylon strings is perfect – works well every time. I like how stiff the strings are, as a intermediate player, it gives me great control over the sound than some of the other classical strings I’ve tried, and since I’m still working on my sound and learning, I didn’t want to invest a lot in a top-quality set of strings, for my needs and budget, these strings work out very well.

Ernesto Palla strings have the ball end, so it is a good fit for someone who isn’t as adept at replacing their guitar strings. I like how clear and crisp the sound is when I use these and while they don’t produce nearly the volume of some strings, I found it great because I’d prefer to control the volume more and produce a more intimate, bluesy sound and of all the classical guitar strings I’ve used, these give me that elusive tone I was looking for.

With the old guitar my grandfather gave me, it’s been a treat learning how to play and remembering that lonesome twang he was able to produce. Since I’ve switched to these classical guitar strings, I feel like I’m getting closer to the sound my granddad used to make and it’s been a real blast, especially these last few nights, being able to sit outside or just kick back on my couch and play. Every set of nylon strings gives you a different kind of sound, it’s true, but I just love the slightly muted sounds I get from these strings, it really is amazing and they’ve made an amazing difference in the way I play.

The strongest selling points of Ernesto Palla strings would have start with the sound – kind of low and bluesy, not too loud, and a little bit crisp and clean when you need it. It’s an unusual blend of folk, country, and blues if you play them right. Second thing, I have to admit, is what a value these are. I’ve paid a lot more money for classical guitar strings I wasn’t nearly as happy with. Sad, but true. In this economy, you have to factor in value and for the money, I have not found nylon strings that work as well for me. Last selling point for these – you get a great look with your classic guitar – the black and gold colors of the strings look as good as they sound.

The only cons I can really think of are how firm the strings are and if you’re used to a less firm string, it could be a big adjustment for you. Just like the overall sound, it what you are comfortable with and I’m very comfortable using Ernesto Palla strings. Read more user reviews.
 

Brand	Ernie Ball Ernesto Palla
Model	2409
Type	Nylon Classical Strings
Gauge	First = .028, Second = .032, Third = .040, Fourth = .030, Fifth = .036, Sixth = .042
Ball end	First, second and third strings are black ball end, gold ball end fourth, fifth, and sixth
Wire wrap	80/20 bronze alloy wrapped around a nylon floss core
Consumer Rating
Price Range	Discount price on Amazon US / Amazon UK

A clip from YouTube on Ernie Ball Ernesto Palla nylon strings.

Answer
You might encounter a couple of scenarios:

• It will be more difficult fretting due to it’s higher tension.
• Fatter tone all round.
• Better tone when playing dropped tunings.

In short, you will get more tone, more volume but less string flexibility. And the most obvious changes – expect your fingertips to hurt more until you get used to the fatter strings.

My Overall Rating:

Ernie Ball Earthwood is currently on sale on Amazon US / Amazon UK

We all know Ernie Ball makes top notch electric guitar strings. But what about acoustic strings? To my surprise, I find they sound pretty good too. I tested Ernie Ball Earthwood 2003 on my Gibson and I’m actually quite like them. These Ernie Ball strings sound clean, resonant and lasting.

Other than clean tone, another thing makes Ernie Ball Earthwood Strings attractive is the price. They are cheap, but give you good and crisp tone. Unlike those “high-end” strings which cost you twice or even 3 times of the price (but you couldn’t tell that they sounded or lasted any better), the price of Ernie Ball strings are very reasonable. And I found they sound great for fingerstyle playing.

These strings are sturdy and easy to play. They tune up very quickly upon install and stay in tune. I would recommend you to try them up because Ernie Ball strings are simply good and cheap! Read more user reviews.
 

Brand	Ernie Ball
Model	Earthwood 2003
Type	Acoustic Strings
Wrap Wire	80/20 Bronze
Coated / Non-coated	Non-coated
Gauge	Medium Light
Consumer Rating
Price Range	Discount price on Amazon US / Amazon UK

Comment from another happy user:

I. T. A

I use these on one of my acoustics that has a nice warm sound but not a lot of punch. Lights are a bit too light for this guitar, and these particular strings seems to be the perfect match for fast light action, and warm tone on this particular instrument. [Read original review here..]

A clip from YouTube on Ernie Ball Earthwood Strings.

Ernie Ball Acoustic Super Slinky played by The Counting Crows, The Edge, and Maroon 5 amongst many other touring musicians. Made with the finest and freshest raw materials, all Ernie Ball strings are hermetically sealed to ensure strings stay as fresh as the day they were made. You should buy one and see for yourself.

Let me show you one of the satisfied user’s review:

“I originally started buying Ernie Ball strings because I found the package looked killer! But once I tried these strings, they are awesome! They sound great, last long and the price is definitely right! “

If you have budget concern and looking for a lower cost set of strings, Ernie Ball acoustic strings might be a great idea. Known as one of the top choice for players since the early 1960s, these strings are easier to play, they sound better, and they are durable.

One of their best selling model, Ernie Ball 2003 Earthwood provide a crisp, ringing sound with pleasing overtones. This string has a little on the wild side and make your strumming feel like a free spirit. There’s another Ernie Ball model, Super Slinky 2148 worth your further study. These strings are made with concert quality and simply awesome!

Other than Ernie Ball, another great brand with low price is Martin Acoustic Guitar Strings.

Acoustic guitar strings consist of many type of gauges & brands. Guitar newbie often get confused as to what type of strings and brand to buy for his guitar. A very common question pop up in newbie’s mind is which is the best acoustic guitar strings brand for me?

As what we have learned from previous article, there are four main gauge options for Acoustic Guitar:

• Extra light 10 – 46. Easiest to play and least tension. Good for beginners but prone to producing a thin sound.
  

• Custom Light Gauge 11 – 52. Ease of playing maintained and produces slightly richer fuller sound.
  

• Light Gauge 12 – 54. Popular with professional musicians. Higher tuning stability. Not recommended for budget guitar due to higher tension.
  

• Medium Gauge 13 – 56. One of the highest gauges. Very big, rich tone but difficult to play on some guitars due to high tension.
  

For a guitar beginner, there are suggestions to opt for lighter strings because it’s easier to press down and simple to play. However there’s no “The Best Brand” in the market. Choosing a certain brand is more on personal preference.

You may want to check out these popular brands in the market: Elixir, D’Addario, Martin, Ernie Ball, etc. Try out few brands and test them to find the best suit you. Personally, I would prefer Elixir’s extra light strings because it is easier to press and last pretty long. Sometimes after you changed to light gauge strings, you still find it’s difficult to press the strings down. You might want to take your guitar to shops and have it checked. Your guitar “action” (height of strings off the fingerboard) might be a bit too high. This problem can be solved by getting guitar repair shop to lower the action for you.

Our next article: How to restring acoustic guitar

1. Composition
2. Gauge
3. Brand

Composition

Guitar strings made from material like nickel, stainless, bronze, phosphor bronze, etc. Acoustic guitar use steel strings and classical use nylon. Electric guitars usually use steel strings too. In this article, we will review steel strings instead of nylon, since they are the most common used.

Guitar strings types could also be classified as wound & unwound strings.

a. Wound Strings: A thinner wire wrap with a steel core (usually bronze, nickel or steel). Wound strings are thick and strong. It normally used for the lower registers.

b. Unwound Strings: Unwound strings (also known as standard strings) are generally used for the upper registers. It’s thinner with a higher pitch.

Different type of string and wrapping metals will affect the sound of the string. Bronze is usually considered to have a ‘bright’ sound, which steel is more mellow & softer, especially when wrapped in nickel.

How the string is wrapped could also impact the sound. Although ‘Rround wound’ strings are loud and vibrant, it can be hard on the neck of your guitar and produce noise when sliding your fingers over them. ‘Flat wound’ strings are not as crisp sounding and are easier on frets and fingers.

Gauge

Next, we look at the gauge of the string, ie the thickness or diameter. There are 4 main gauges for Acoustic Guitar strings:

• Extra light 10 – 46. Easiest to play and least tension. Good for beginners but prone to producing a thin sound.
• Custom Light Gauge 11 – 52. Ease of playing maintained and produces slightly richer fuller sound.
• Light Gauge 12 – 54. Popular with professional musicians. Higher tuning stability. Not recommended for budget guitar due to higher tension.
• Medium Gauge 13 – 56. One of the highest gauges. Very big, rich tone but difficult to play on some guitars due to high tension.

Thicker strings sound louder, but they are also under more tension to maintain the required pitch. This can make them hard to play, as the pressure required to push the string down behind the fret is considerable.

To avoid buzzing against the frets, thicker strings usually have to be mounted a bit higher off the soundboard than thin strings. This may slow down the “action” of the instrument, making it more difficult to play quickly.

Brand

So which brand to choose? That is up to your own preference & budget. Each brand has its own solid characteristics, but what works for one person might not sound right to another. The best thing you can do is buy 2 or 3 packs of strings from different makers. Test it and see which one sounds the best to you.

One thing for sure is, choosing appropriate strings will aid technique, enhance quality and improve confidence of the guitar player.

So by now you had basic understanding on guitar strings types, let’s move on to next article: When Should We Replace Guitar Strings?